The Regional and Remote Festivals Fund offers up to $50,000 for the presentation of arts and cultural activities at regional festivals. The fund forms part of the McGowan Government's $20 million four-year Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program (RACIP).
Funding for festivals creates regional jobs, contributes to tourism and enables communities to participate in local arts activities. After a period of disconnection due to the COVID-19 pandemic, culture and the arts are vital to creating vibrant, inclusive and connected communities.
The 2021 WA Arts and Culture Monitor Survey found that 87 per cent of people said the arts make them feel good, with a further 77 per cent feeling that the arts are valuable for the community. Funded projects are listed below:
- Arts Margaret River Inc, Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival - $50,000
- Bare Naked Events, Busselton Performing Arts Festival (South-West) - $48,500
- Big hART Inc, Songs for Peace 2022 (Roebourne) - $50,000
- Bunuba Cultural Conservation Institute, Yajilarra Festival 2022 (Kimberley) - $50,000
- City of Albany, Albany Maritime Festival (Great Southern) - $50,000
- City of Karratha, Red Earth Arts Festival 2022 (Pilbara) - $49,999
- Denmark Arts Council, Denmark Festival of Voice (Great Southern) - $49,795
- West Australian Guitar Festival Inc - Strings Attached: The West Australian Guitar Festival 2022 (South-West) - $49,329
Launched by the McGowan Government in 2019, the RACIP acknowledges the importance of culture and arts programs in regional and remote Western Australia. It continues to focus on delivering social inclusion, accessibility and employment opportunities in regional WA - receiving an additional $5 million in the 2021 State Budget to extend the program.
The RACIP is delivered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, with funding from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Since 2019, the RACIP has injected almost $13 million into arts and culture in regional and remote WA.
For more information about programs that fund regional WA communities, visit the DLGSC website.
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"RACIPs like these create jobs, economic development, tourism and improving social connection through regional festivals.
"I encourage you to wander out yonder and get involved in the wide range of regional festivals in 2022."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"These projects will help to reignite arts and cultural activity in a sector that has been hit hard by COVID-19 - especially for the regions.
"The funding will provide local artists with opportunities to showcase their work and regional audiences to participate in new arts experiences."
Culture and the Arts Minister's office - 6552 5400
